Alpha One,gen 1 water pump replacement

One day I stopped in to a big boat dealer and I know the guys in the shop.
--The service manger(a 20 year man) had a used engine apart and was looking like the world came to and end.. I asked him, whats the trouble. He said they sold a used engine and the guy didn't put oil in the gas and locked it up, so now we have to bore it out.
--I looked at it.. One of the pistons had scored the cylinder wall.. No big deal, old used engine that had to go back out in one day.. I took some boat bottom cleaner that has muriatic acid in it and cleaned the metal(aluminum) off the cylinder wall and stuck a used piston in.... Runs like a champ.

The water pump, look at which way the engine turns the shaft and turn the shaft the same direction when loading the impeller case onto the water pump.. EDIT: usually the impeller is placed on the shaft first, then the case is loaded onto it and then the bolts... EDIT: I use a vise grip to turn the shaft, makes it easy.. Just don't clamp it on the splines..
Looking down on the top of the engine, it turns clockwise...You can use some soapy water to help if needed.

Main thing is, never run the engine without water to the lower unit because the impeller will burn up quick.

Now here is the thing too.. If someone manually turns the engine backwards it might flip the impeller blades if they are somewhat new... This can happen when someone is working on the engine doing timing or checking for a bad cylinder, but you should always try to turn it clockwise

I like outboard questions.. I have 12 outboard engines of my own and have rebuilt many outboards.

I blow them up by running them to fast or at too high of rpms. I guess I'm a nut... My 90hp merc 3cly is suppose to run at 5600, lol.. I run it 6800 rpm..